T. M. Belloni1, S. E. Motta1,2 and T. Muñoz-Darias1,3
Abstract.
Sixteen years of observations of black hole transients with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, complemented by
other X-ray observatories and ground-based optical/infrared/radio telescopes have given us a clear view of
the complex phenomenology associated with their bright outbursts. This has led to the definition of a small
number of spectral/timing states which are separated by marked transitions in observables. The association
of these states and their transitions to changes in the radio emission from relativistic radio jets completes
the picture and have led to the study of the connection between accretion and ejection. A good number of
fundamental questions are still unanswered, but the existing picture provides a good framework on which to
base theoretical studies. We discuss the current observational standpoint, with emphasis onto the spectral
and timing evolution during outbursts, as well as the prospects for future missions such as ASTROSAT (2012)
and LOFT (>2020 if selected).
Keywords: accretion, accretion discs -- black hole physics -- X-rays: binaries
1INAF-- Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via E. Bianchi 46, I-23807 Merate, Italy
2Università dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, I-22100 Como, Italy
3Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Calle Vía Líctea s/n,
38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain